KEARNS — Although he spends more of his playing time at first base, Taylorsville U17's Marc Reynolds knows how tenuous pitching can be.
"It's fun when things are going right," Reynolds said. "You just feel dominant. But things can go wrong quick."
For Reynolds, things went right and stayed that way in an 8-0 win over Granger in the American Legion state tournament on Wednesday night. The win puts the Warriors in the tourney's driver's seat, as they earned a bye until Friday and are the only unbeaten team left in the double-elimination event.
Reynolds' pitching helped put Taylorsville U17 in command of the tournament. The lefty threw a three hitter and never let Granger build any offensive momentum. He not only shut down a productive Granger offense, he saved the Warriors some pitching innings. His fastball had some movement, and his curveball worked well against left-handed batters.
"I was feeling it today," Reynolds said.
Reynolds has started at Taylorsville for two years. He'll be a senior next season.
"Marc had to step up, and he does that," said Taylorsville U17 coach Jackson Ewing. "He's a very competitive kid. He's tough."
Taylorsville U17's win over Granger was seemingly like a replay of its win over Brigham City on Tuesday. The Lancers were a more veteran team than the Warriors, but Taylorsville U17 started fast again and cruised to another blowout victory.
The Warriors jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second and added to it when Austin Guevara ripped a two-run single in the fourth. Dalton Carroll hit a two-run double later in the inning to make it a 6-0 game.
Carroll paced Taylorsville U17's offense with two doubles.
"We've had some clutch hits," Ewing said. "We told them at the beginning everybody's going to have to bring something and they've bought into that. It's great for us."
Different players have starred in Taylorsville U17's four state tournament victories. Reynolds, Guevara and Carroll took their turns on Wednesday.
"We've had different guys step up than we've had the last two days," Reynolds said. "Sometimes you need that."
The summer has been a needed confidence builder for Taylorsville U17, which features players who will compete for the high school team next season. After missing the state tournament during the high school season, the Warriors are showing that the future is bright for their baseball program.
"We've put in a lot of hard work," Reynolds said. "We've been in the weight room for a year straight. Now we're starting to put things together and play baseball right."
Granger is still alive in the double-elimination tournament. The Lancers will play Helper for the third time this season tonight with the winner earning a bye until Saturday. The two teams have split two meetings this summer with Helper winning during the regular season, and Granger prevailing in a tourney game on Monday.
HELPER 1, BRIGHAM CITY 0: Helper stayed alive in the state tournament, thanks to a brilliant pitching performance by Colter Moore. He held the Pioneers to three hits in what was a matchup of league champions. Julian Tamllos stole two bases before scoring the game-winning run in the sixth. Helper turned three double plays in the victory.
BLACKSMITH FORK 12, ROY 2: Rhett Parkinson threw a complete game and Trace Hansen had three doubles and two RBIs to lead the Trappers.
TAYLORSVILLE 5, WEST 4: The Warriors' older club survived a seventh-inning rally by the Panthers to stay alive. West scored two runs in the seventh and had two runners on base with one out, but Taylorsville pitcher Skyler Norris, who threw a complete game, shut it down.
American Legion state tournament
Today's games, at Oquirrh Park
Blacksmith Fork vs. Taylorsville, 5 p.m.
Granger vs. Helper, 8 p.m.
e-mail: aaragon@desnews.com